The Debrief, 5/20/14

This week we focus on two stories in the escalating conflict between China and Southeast Asian nations over the South China Sea, International Anti-Homophobia Day and DPP’s most recent constitutional change position.

Last week, we covered the first summit meeting for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where China’s sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea was a major focus. Particularly incensed is Vietnam, at China’s illegally placing an oil drilling rig in disputed waters. Vietnamese and Chinese vessels have clashed near the rig…

While unrest over sovereignty dispute with China continues in Vietnam, the United States Navy is getting access to a naval base across the South China Sea in the Philippines…

A hundred paper gravestones were erected in front of the Ketagalan Boulevard on Saturday, May 17, as LGBTI activist groups in Taiwan observed the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. On the paper gravestones were names of victims who were bullied and committed suicide because of their sexual identities…

On Friday, Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party chairman Su Jen-chang announced that the DPP is in favor of revising the constitution to double the size of Taiwan’s parliament…

(Feature photo of China’s South China Sea claims, which is enclosed by the green “nine dotted line.” Photo by the Central Intelligence Agency)

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